Portable window seat



Ma 26, 1931. w. D. DUNN 1, 7

PORTABLE wINDow SEAT Filed Feb 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a moan to z @51 alt tome W wmm May 26, 1 w. D. DUNN 1,306,675

PORTABLE WINDOW SEAT Filed Feb. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a, l-LIHLLLHI lllrunn. 3

t 1 LL! IJ-LLL LLI I I l l I II 1 I f 1? wmvawtoz +1 Gum/nu Patented May 26, 1931 uNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. DUNN, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR TO AUGUST-WALTER SPILNER, CF ELIZABETH, NE'UJ PORTABLE WINDOW SEAT Application filed February 9, 1929.

My invention relates to window seats and more particularly to a portable seat adapted readily to be secured to the frame of a window to facilitate washing, painting and analogous operation, on the outside of the window. I

Many devices of this nature heretofore have been proposed but insofar as I am aware they have all been complicated in construction, costly to manufacture, cumbersome to handle, and difficult of attachment. Also none of them have afforded sufficient security to the user whose life, it must be remembered may be sacrificed by failure of the seat to be supported or by accidental falling of the user from the seat. Prior devices also have not been sufficiently universal in their adjustments to enable them to befitted to a wide range of window sizes and various frame constructions.

Because of the above mentioned objections,

devices of this nature have not met with favor and persons obliged to wash windows have continued to sit on the window sill and lean backwardly out of the window, supporting the body against falling by gripping the upper edge of the window sash. This posture is both dangerous and tiresome and precludes the use of both hands in the washing operation. r

The primary object of my invention is to provide a portable seat, of the type referred to, which is more simple in construction than any heretofore provided; which may be manufactured at a relatively small cost and which, though relativelynarrow in width affords ample room for the user and is adapted to fit within either relatively narrow or relatively wide window frames and to engage the sides of said frames, thereby afiording a complete enclosure for the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide a seat of the type described which readily may be carried from place to place andattached to a window frame, by a user of very limited strength.

Still another obj ectis to provide improved clamping means for securing the seat to window frames of various form and construction, which clamping means shall be devoid of all Serial No. 838,850.

elements requiring manual manipulation (such as screws, nuts, etc.) to effect the clamping operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a portable window seat affording complete enclosure for the user and which readily may be collapsed into a small compass for the purpose of storing when not in use.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote coresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved window seat showing itsecured in operative position in a window frame. Fig. "2 is a sideelevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of my window seat removed from the window frame and collapsed for storing. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing a modified form of side arm adapted to serve as an additional brace for the seat. 3

Referring moreparticularlyto the drawings my improved window seat is disclosed as comprising a seat member 1, preferably. of wood, secured upon two supporting arms 2 and 3. These supporting arms are preferably of metal and are formed-with hooked inner extremities 2 and 3, respectively, adapted to engage over the usual inner window .sill S forming a part of the window frame, designated generally as F. The window frame also provides a seat star the lower Window sash and an outer sill, or water table and bar 2 by any suitable means, such for example, as by staples.

Cooperating with the hooked extremities 2 and 3 of the supporting arms, to maintain the seat in operative position, is a clampbar 4 slidingly titted upon the arms 2 and 3 and normally urged toward the hooked extremities 2 and S by contractile springs 5 and 6, one end of each of which is connected to one of the arms and the other end of which is fastened to the clamp bar 4. The clampbar is shaped to engage the vertical wall to of the window frame and to rest upon the upper surface of the sill s as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, thereby securely clamping the seat to the window frame and limiting the down ard swinging movement of the arms 2 and 3 to substantially a horizontal position. It is to be noted that the hooked extremities of the arms 2 and 3 and the slide bar 4 are the entire supporting and clamping means for the seat, and that due to the yielding mounting of the slide-bar these elements automatically adjust themselves to the various widths of different window sills.

A back rest 7 is secured upon supporting members 8 and 9, which in turn are hinged to the seat member 1 as by hinges 10 and 11. An important feature of this invention consists of side arms 12 and 13 hinged to the back rest as by hinges 14 and 15 and adapted to be swung outwardly into engagement with the window frame to provide, in combination with the backrest, a complete enclosure for the user. The lower ends of the back supporting members 8 and 9 are adapted, when swung to a substantially upright position, to engage the rear edge 1 of the seat member 1 to afford a stop, thereby to limit the outward movement of the back rest. It is to be understood that the connections between the back-rest 7 and the arms 12 and 13 are such that each of the arms may be swung from a position where they are folded upon the back rest to a position far beyond a line perpendicular to the back rest thereby to permit the inner ends of the arms to engage the window frame, as shown at 0, regardless of the width thereof, within reasonable limits. Thus a relatively narrow seat maybe fitted within a relatively wide window frame and the user will have ample elbow room and will be completely enclosed by the back rest and side arms.

The arms 12 and 13 are so formed that they may be folded against the back rest 7 and the uprights Sand 9 are of such a length that when folded flat upon the seat member 1 the arms will overhang the inner edge of the seat member as shown in Fig. 4. This permits the seat to be folded into a very small compass for the purpose of storing when not in use.

Attention is called to the facility with which this improved seat may be attached for be observed that when in use the user is completely enclosed by the back rest and side rms and therefore there is no possibility of his falling therefrom even if he should be come ill or unconscious. This complete enclosure also gives the user a feeling of security and he may proceed with his work, using both hands if desired.

To remove the seat from its operative position the operator folds the arms 12 and 13 against the back rest and the back rest 7, 8, and 9 against the seat member. He then grips the outer edge of the seat member 1 and pulls it upwardly and inwardly. This releases the clamp bar 4 from the wall w and the whole device is free to be drawn into the room.

To prevent marring of the window sill, the ends 2 and 3 may be covered with any suitable protecting material, such for ex ample, as rubber tubin It is to be observed that this improved seat comprises only seven pieces of wood, one metal frame element- 2, 2-, 3, two springs and four hinges. Therefore it may be built at a relatively small cost as compared with similar devices heretofore provided. It is to be understood however, that one or more of the wooden elements may be replaced with strong, yet light metal members, should it be so desired.

Fig. 5 shows a modified construction in which the back rest and side arms are made of metal and the side arms comprise two parts adjustably secured together as, for example, by means of a slotand-bolt connection, thumb nuts 20, threaded on the bolts serving to clamp the two parts of the arm in their adjusted position. In this form the inner end of the side arms are provided with off-set portions 21 adapted to engage the window frame inside the room.

The side arm therefore, serves as an additional brace to prevent outward movement beyond its upright position.

Having thus revealed my invention what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A portable window-seat comprising a substantially U-shaped metal frame affording seat-supporting bars each provided with hooked extremities adapted to engage an innor portion of a window frame; a seat member rigidly secured upon said seat-supporting bars; a clamp-bar slidingly fitted upon said supporting bars and adapted to rest are) upon an outer portion of the window frame to transmit thereto the weight of said seat and seat-supporting bars; and a coil spring surrounding each of said bars and acting upon said clamp-bar to cause it to slide on said supporting bars thereby to grip an outer portion of the window frame.

2. A portable and collapsible windowseat comprising a plurality of seat-supporting elements; a spring actuated clamping bar slidingly mounted on said elements and adapted to rest upon an outer portion of said window frame to support said seat-supporting elements for securing said elements to a window frame; a seat member secured to said supporting elements; a back-rest hinged to said seat member; a rigid side arm hinged adjacent each end of said back-rest, said sidearms being of a length sufiicient to reach from said back-rest to within and beyond the inner face of said window frame when the seat is in operative position, said side arms also being arranged to swing horizontally into engagement with the opposite sides of said window frame to provide, with said backrest, a complete enclosure fora user.

3. A portable and collapsible window-seat comprising a plurality of seat-supporting elements; spring-actuated clamping means for securing said elements to a window frame, one element of said clamping means also being adapted to engage a substantially horizontal surface of said window frame to limit downward swinging of said seat-supporting elements; a seat member fixed to said supporting elements; a back-rest hinged to said seat member adjacent its outer edge and comprising upright elements and a cross-bar; a plurality of side arms hinged to said back-rest and adapted to extend from said back-rest inwardly into engagement with opposite sides of said window frame when the seat is in operative position, said side arms also being foldable against said back-rest, and said back-rest being foldable upon said seat member, the upright elements of said back-rest being of greater length than the width of said seat member whereby the side arms, folded upon said back-rest, will overhang the edge of the seat member when said back-rest is folded thereupon.

4. In a portable window seat, a seat member; means to support said seat member in a window frame; a back-rest hinged to said seat member, said back-rest being formed of fabricated metal and comprising bars substantially U-shape in cross section; lengthwise extensible side arms hinged to said back-rest, said side arms comprising supporting members formed of metal substantially U-shape in cross section and adjustable members telescopingly arranged in the channels provided by the supporting members; and means to secure said adjustable members in adjusted position in said supporting members , said adjustable members each being formed with an off-set portion adapted to engage the window frame inside a room.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM D. DUNN. 7 

